Truth be told, if skills sold, Mike Jones would have the commercial success of Talib Kweli. More style than substance, the Houston advocate shot to stardom two years ago, while superior lyricists were left watching his videos on their idiot boxes. Haters may remain salty, but in reality, Jones’ success is quite deserved. What the Ice Age CEO lacks in lyrical wizardry he makes up for in an uncanny marketing sense and corporate grind. The wide-eyed entrepreneur crashed rap’s party by utilizing never-done-before tactics, broadcasting his personal telephone number and encouraging first-person interaction. This business acumen timed with the genesis of his hometown’s nationwide takeover, and Mike Jones became an unexpected heavyweight.
A rarity for rookies nowadays, Jones’ 2005 debut, Who Is Mike Jones? gave the upstart a platinum seller right out the gate. Powered by the monstrous anthems “Still Tippin’” and “Back Then,” the album contained chopped-and-screwed hooks and inventive, trunk-rattling production that placed Mr. Jones’ underdeveloped prose on the back burner, temporarily. The days of superlyrical MC domination are indefinitely paused, making subpar rappers with hitmaking flair excusable for some. But for Jones to gain all-around respect, evolution is crucial. Sadly, his even more accessible follow-up, The American Dream, shows about as much growth as an adolescent Bushwick Bill.
Mike Jones does, however, know how to pick beats. The instrumentals here are mostly top-shelf, with Salih, one-half of H-Town production duo Carnival Beats, stealing the show. On the off-kilter “Like What I Got,” his creeping, robotic track makes Jones’ egotistical flossing sound almost progressive. Salih’s left-field beat work continues on “Turning Headz,” where amped-up synthesizers aid MJ’s humorous wit (“They used to laugh at my belly, now they wanna rubbbb/On my belly every Sunday to get in my clubbbb”). Equally tight is the N.W.A-sampling “My 64,” a violin/808 marriage complete with potent verses from guests Snoop Dogg and Bun B.
Once the soundtrack falters, however, our host’s mic deficiencies become tougher to ignore. Take the wannabe-Jeezy record “I Don’t Play Around,” where TA’s faux DJ Toomp horn-and-string medley derails alongside Jones’ failed defiance (“They say I can’t rap, because I repeat shit, what the fuck?/Let me put ’em in they place, I make five million bucks”). Even worse is the laughable “Groupie,” which oozes unoriginality thanks to an overtly blunt chorus that, supposedly, appeals to girls “that will do me and not ask any questions.” Perhaps the clearest example of Jones’ immature execution is “Grandma II.” More uninspired remake than elevated sequel, the Mike Dean–tracked attempt at mirror music offers the exact same sentiments as its predecessor, only with less impact.
Opting to rehash rather than re-up, repeating of bars still runs rampant, but he wisely enlists the help of notable R&B divas Lil’ Mo (“I’m Sorry”) and LeToya Luckett (“Bonnie & Clyde”) to make the whole ordeal more digestable. On the latter, in fact, LeToya actually splits bars with Mike as the pair navigate their way through Mannie Fresh’s sound-bed of chopstick chords and flat snares.
Sophomore discs are always dangerous ground, even more so for those with questionable talent. The public will either foolishly fall for the gimmick once again or demand some sort of artistic development. Therein lies Jones’ dilemma. With his smoke-and-mirrors act barely cutting it this time, he better be careful before people wake up from this American dream asking, who was Mike Jones? —MATT BARONE
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April 2nd, 2007
at 12:40 pm
RockCity says:
figured that
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 12:51 pm
YounGuttaAkaPaperBoy(LongliveDaking)BkaCuzzoDaKing,MW says:
First U bitches and hoes…HAHA!
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 2:27 pm
Pierzy says:
Mike Jones is a garbage MC. If I were an MC and I spit my phone number in songs, people around me would slap the shit outta me and they’d be right.
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 2:30 pm
TRST says:
DIKE JOOOONES JOOOOOOOONES.
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 2:54 pm
hatestupidppl says:
>>>If I were an MC and I spit my phone number in songs, people around me would slap the shit outta me and they’d be right.
slap you for what, being creative, perhaps sellings records, ingenius marketing tatics? sounds like you have some stupid ass people you hang around, who hate money.
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 3:05 pm
CREEPA 101 says:
Yeah this nigga is GARBAGE ! I will never buy your shit or even borrow your shit or take it as gift ill burn your shit ..! you are a wackass nigga !!!
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 3:28 pm
JE1NEK says:
REAL TEXANS DONT FEEL DIKE JONES…
WE STOP BUMPIN HIM ALONG TIME AGO..
COP UGK…..
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 4:47 pm
Juice says:
Mr. jones had a hot beat but i don think i will cop the album
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 4:50 pm
evasive says:
yes its easy to notice he raps about the same shit every song
doesn’t matter to me,
i like the “who is mike jones”, never get tired of it, it’s entertainment seeing people hate on it. you niggas dont realize where it came from, you assume its a gimmick without knowing the true story behind it. listen to his track “grandma” he explains it, he even knows its wack repeating his name, he even wanted to change his name to something else, he does it in respect for his grandma who told him to do it, but she passed away so she never saw his success
you gotta respect his hustle, his grind. he came out no where, people dissed him, doubted him, made whole mixtapes dissing him (ahem, chamillionaire) , yet he came out it and ended up going plat, still selling more than chamillionaire to this day. he doesn’t give a shit what ppl think, he’ll scream his name till the day he dies
watch him go platinum again
i for one, will be buying his album on may 8, 2007
holla at ya boy
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 5:59 pm
Dipset says:
Fuckin Ninja Turtle!!!
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 6:46 pm
SOME NIGGA says:
GARABBBBAGEEEEE
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 9:12 pm
mzweezybaby says:
I garantee yall in every one of mike jones raps there will be something about candy paint, 6 4, or grillz.
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 10:07 pm
Jmillz says:
This mothafucka reapeats lines so his shit will rhyme. I can’t speak for the whole album but the first single was garbage. he was all on 106 talking about he’s comming back. That shit was whack I Said that shit was whack.
Reply
April 2nd, 2007
at 10:07 pm
Jmillz says:
This mothafucka reapeats lines so his shit will rhyme. I can’t speak for the whole album but the first single was garbage. he was all on 106 talking about he’s comming back. That shit was whack I Said that shit was whack.
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 12:06 am
Farrukh says:
Join HHN. Hip-HopNation Board.
all about hip-hop, just created tha board and need members to keep it going. it has a download section as well an alot more.
http://www.cubanlinx2.proboards106.com
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 12:48 am
KC_DOUGHBOYZnDAhOoD says:
Mike Jones is da bomb diggity, u feel all u muthafukin haterz can suk my dik.
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 3:59 am
facescar says:
…so much hate…
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 7:24 am
BkLeR says:
Y’all some bunch ass of hataz, Jones is banging on y’all bitch ass.
Je1nek siad that Texas only feel UGk, but the Bun & the Pimp are feeling Mike Jones, bitch!He is the artist who made more featuring on BunB and PimpC’s albums!
Go and check out this freestyle “http://videos.onsmash.com/v/j3uxVnMBK7jhQn8h”
And Then tell me who da shit?
Mike Jones
Who?
Mike Jones
Who?
Mike Jones, H-Town Baby!!!
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 10:27 am
yadadafeelme? says:
this fool can’t rap for shit, i don’t know how anyone can say he has great lyrical ability. he repeats a line (or more than one) in EVERY one of his songs, it’s so fucking irritating. he ain’t a good rapper. best from texas are chamillionaire and bun-b. and he looks like a fuckin’ ninja turtle.
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 2:24 pm
GI JOE says:
MAN HELL NAW!!
IM FROM TEXAS AND I PUT THIS ON MY LIFE, I NEVER EVERRRR JAMMED MIKE JONES!!!!
I USED TO WONDER IN 2002 WHY NIGGAS WERE SAYING “WHO? MIKE JOOOONES” I HEARD HIM FOR THE 1ST TIME WHEN HE JOINED SWISHAHOUSE….FROM THAT DAY…NEVER AGAIN.
ITS WORST WHEN YOU RIDE WITH ONE OF YOUR POTNAS AND THEY MIGHT LIKE THIS MUTHAFUCKA, AND THEY POP IN HIS ALBUM….AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!! THE AGONY.
“I’D RATHER BANG SCREW”
DAMN, IT SHOULD BE S.U.C. ON TV SCREENS WITH DJ SCREW ON TOP AKA THE ORIGINATOR.
FAT PAT…RIP
LIL KEKE
GATOR…RIP
KK…DAMN K, LIFETIME SENTENCE.
BIG HAWK…RIP
C-NOTE
GRACE
BOTANY BOYS
AL-D
LOS
BIG STEVE…RIP
BIG POKEY
BIG MOE
YUNGSTAR…MAN “THOWED YUNG PLAYA” SHOULD’VE BEEN YOUR TICKET YUNG. I STILL JAM THAT.
Z-RO…MAINSTREAM IS SCARED OF REAL STREET SHIT, ALL YOUR ALBUMS HARD.
TRAE
E.S.G.
LIL 3RD
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 2:37 pm
Holla says:
LOL @ this garbage ass album - we all knew Dyke Jones was a gimmick. Time to retire.
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 3:16 pm
Big Chris says:
This is one of the weakest rappers ever. I respect any nigga doin they thang but damn. He’s insulting real rap and the real niggas that spit. Nigga is straight garbage. It seem like the more simple a nigga is the more niggas love him. Im just waiting on The Carter 3, The Drought 3, Andre 3000 to drop some shit, and that new T.I.-t.i. vs. tip. Other then that hip hop dead. Dirty World 4 Life! The world dirty. the money dirty. the blunts dirty. The bitches dirty. Dirty World nigga. Dirty World Records!!
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 4:41 pm
NIFTY says:
Mike jones is oreyt but all he says is fukin “MIKE JONES”! am wi im above cant wait 4 tha carter 3! gunna be the best hip hop in 2007 apart from dre’s and 50’s!
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 9:56 pm
Cuban Link says:
Mike Jones sucks ass.(no Tha Carter III)
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 10:34 pm
TucTown D says:
All you haters in here make me sick. The niggas up in here hatin on mike jones is the same niggas talk about jim jones go harder then jay-z. mike jones will out sell some of your favorite rappers any day of the week.
Reply
April 4th, 2007
at 10:44 am
Jmillz says:
its not about record sales homie
Reply
April 4th, 2007
at 7:48 pm
GI JOE says:
LMAO! THIS IS A DIKE JONES BASIC 16…IF IM LYING YOU DYING…
i ride on 84’s, blowin dro, sippin 4’s
ice age we in the doe….
ice age we in the doe…
who am i? mike joooones, who? mike jooones
i said mike jooones, who? mike jones, mike jooones
candy paint and im sippin drank
im in the club finna sip a eight
gotta million dollar chain. million rang, i got some mills in my bank
diamonds all up in my grill
diamonds all up in my grill
candy cars, and superstars, grippin a woodgrain steering wheel
281-330-8004 hit mike jones on the low
281-330-8004 sike i lied that aint my phone no mo’
i saiiid i changed my damn number hoe
that aint my phone number no mo[**ad lid**jeeeah, mike jooooones, jooooones**]
Reply
April 6th, 2007
at 4:32 pm
Westside Money says:
dyke jones got crushed by chamilitary
Reply
April 6th, 2007
at 5:36 pm
traplif3 says:
boy has made our whole texas fam look bad when he first came out on mike watts chop em up 8 he was fresh wit magno the two together were good but once he went solo couldnt hold it down
Reply
April 9th, 2007
at 12:58 pm
NiCC says:
Fuck all of y’all haters and lovers. The south’s garbage, some scary ass hoes.
DPGC DUBS UP ! ! !
Reply
April 9th, 2007
at 2:47 pm
Joan says:
Da brand new album of da ninja turtle , jajajaja. Dike jones
Reply
April 10th, 2007
at 4:48 am
Dante says:
Despite the poor reviews, this album will probably go on to sell big. People don’t need skill anymore to sell. All you gotta do is spit about material shit and thousands, if not millions, will by it. Have you ever listened to Mike Jones? He has garbage lyrics, repeats everything, and talks about the same exact things. I’ve heard him use the same comparison to describe his ice on more than one song. Bottom line is it’s not about skill no more, but about who has what and how they best tell us they got it.
Reply
April 11th, 2007
at 6:58 am
QC says:
dis nigga is lame
Reply
April 11th, 2007
at 8:36 am
kaution86 says:
lol this shit got me laughin hard as hell mike jones is garbaggio pure shit,they should ban this nigga,him and d4l lol send em to the ihp-hop dugeon with vanilla ice and hammer.lmao
Reply
April 12th, 2007
at 3:20 pm
fishscale nigga says:
mike jones
who?
Reply
April 13th, 2007
at 1:24 am
Maddi Is Gully says:
Mr. Jones Sucked Ballz so this album gon flop hard. I’ll burn this I Think. I Only copped his first album coz of Still Tippin’ Which was a Bangin track. And Back Then Was Aite.
But Yeah Fuck This Shitty Album!
Reply
April 13th, 2007
at 5:48 pm
Shay says:
It’ll go platinum easy, despite all the negative hype
Reply
April 14th, 2007
at 2:17 am
DJ says:
yo that was the harshes review ive ever read the guy like almost dissed mike he aint da best rapper ever but hes fun to listen too wen ur blasted and jc like i like his new song mr.jones
Reply
April 14th, 2007
at 11:48 pm
Rod Brooks says:
This nigga is grade A GARBAGE he fuckin sucks , but muthafuckas be buying that bullshit
Reply
April 15th, 2007
at 2:39 pm
BIGNAT says:
i know no one who owns his first album how that shit went plat. i got peoples in nyc,md,florida,cali,arizona,ohio,va,ok, and texas no one i know owns that fucking cd. i think it’s lies he went gold and at like 800,000 he bought the rest. his new single is not even catchy i think his new cd will go double cedar wood
Reply
April 17th, 2007
at 2:24 pm
shinobi says:
yea yea yea. this is one album I definitely won’t be purchasing it’s already enough wack-ass music as it is why even bother and i don’t know who in the hell told mike jones he could spit i’ve farted better material. mike jones needs to wrap it up and soon.
Reply
April 19th, 2007
at 11:19 am
Hottsauce says:
I’m from Texas too and I have to agree that that dude should’ve never got a record deal. Str8 trash! This dude couldn’t make a hit if he was in a runaway train that veered off the track in rush hour traffic, in on-coming traffic, with a winchester rifle with permission from the mafia!
Reply
April 19th, 2007
at 12:54 pm
WC Repper says:
Garbage Pt.II should be the title of his next cd. Even some Texas boys are on here talking mess about Mike Jones. If you don’t have local support then you have nothing. It’s time to hang up your grill Dikey!!!
Reply
April 20th, 2007
at 12:49 pm
verd shade says:
its garbage jones …….. holla at ure boy
Reply
April 24th, 2007
at 7:54 pm
BOSA says:
MIKE JONES FUCCIN SUCKS!!!
repeat that twice you gibberish talkin muthafucca
Reply
April 24th, 2007
at 9:35 pm
texas says:
man hold up mike jones go hard yall some haters
especially him and flip team up and he is going plantinum and if you hatin on mike jones you hatin on texas bitch quit hatin
Reply
May 1st, 2007
at 8:35 am
JABU says:
HA HAHAHAHA!!!!!
MIKE JONESSSSSSSSS!!!
Reply
May 2nd, 2007
at 9:07 am
ronnie says:
mike jones is a whore. ya’ll triping for giving that nigga half the credit he getting
Reply
May 3rd, 2007
at 5:56 pm
baby jay everyday says:
this nigga need to stop rapping he so weak my two year old nehpew can rap better then him we know who mike jones is is we just wonder when he gonna be gone
Reply
May 3rd, 2007
at 5:56 pm
baby jay everyday says:
this nigga need to stop rapping he so weak my two year old nehpew can rap better then him we know who mike jones is is we just wonder when he gonna be gone
Reply
May 3rd, 2007
at 9:40 pm
explosive says:
now he’s not the best but like some one already said he’s fun to listen too n thats good enough plus when everything is all said n done the only thing that matters is how much money you got in the end n yea you can say that he aint lyrical cause its true but you can’t say he don’t know how to make money and he’s dam good at it too n please stop hating the south
Reply
May 4th, 2007
at 1:14 pm
Spitter says:
Man, dis nigga’s a joke. Shitty beats and busted lyrics. Ya’ll be forgetin bout him a year from now.
Reply
May 4th, 2007
at 8:18 pm
STEEL CITY says:
MIKE JONES MIKE JONES MIKE JONES MIKE JONES MIKE JONES MIKE JONES MIKE JONES now yall aint got to buy the cd
Reply
May 4th, 2007
at 9:59 pm
Westside Money says:
ahhh fuck dyke jones lil puzzy azz
Reply
May 15th, 2007
at 9:14 am
Moe says:
He should of got a S he needs to put the mic down
Reply
May 15th, 2007
at 9:05 pm
TaZ says:
y even bother commenting?
Reply
May 17th, 2007
at 3:23 pm
loc to tha brain says:
Mike jones is the worst shit ive ever heard
Reply
May 18th, 2007
at 5:40 pm
J Millz says:
Mike Jones needs to quit rap and get a day job. Just heard his new single “My 64″ and the mothafucka’s still repeatin’ bars just to rhyme. his verse sounds like all his other verses on other songs. I don’t see how anybody could feel this nigga.
Reply
May 22nd, 2007
at 10:31 pm
Bronxrap.com Soldier says:
“What the Ice Age CEO lacks in lyrical wizardry he makes up for in an uncanny marketing sense and corporate grind”??? That’s not hip-hop. If the nigga can’t rap he can’t rap case closed. We need to stop given these corny ass dudes excuses for no skills. I could care less what Mike Jones scored on his Business classes in college. This thing is hip-hop. Let us score accordingly
Reply
May 23rd, 2007
at 10:38 am
da man says:
fuck it!! hip hop is dead!
Reply
May 23rd, 2007
at 12:58 pm
Tracy says:
Mike Jones needs a new gimmick or else he can kiss his career goodbye.
Reply
June 9th, 2007
at 4:13 pm
Mr I get money says:
i like mike jones music he creative not to may rappers would be to creative enough to tell people call they number
Reply
July 5th, 2007
at 10:52 am
Lathugz62 says:
I thought XXL would be a credible sight for rap reviews but it is appearant that they are not. This CD is not even worth an “M”, but they gave it an “L”. His rudementary lyrics, his repetitve lines, & the disproportianate failure in growth. from his debut album onto his sophmore almbum. Here’s some of his overwhelming lyrics
Had a million in my bank before I solemn bought the deal
Had a million in my bank before I solemn bought the deal
If Im The Car, Imma Star/O.G By The Pound Wit A Brown A Bar/Got X And Weed Got Wat U Need/If U Got The Feed Holla At Ya Boi
Yea that’s real fuccin subtle or what about this
Well I’m cruisin down the street in my candy painted low/bouncin like a door, with 4 on my 6 4’s/I pull up wood grippin, doors tippin sittin low/ I’m hittin sixteen switches watch it stop and hit the floor
Damn them reviewers must have been high giving this album an L, I admit the beats are tight, but that only represents about 20% of the album. His flow & charisma is missing, contetnt is wacc raps about the same old stupid shyt, (Bacc then theu didn’t like u now they do, My 6′4 candy paint, & about ur gramdmother) well lets give him a standing ovation he does kno how 2 rap about something else even tho he had a similar song on his first album……..O yea I heard Dr. Suess publications are trynta sue Mike Jones 4 stealing his rhymes………….Overall
Produciton B+
Lyrics F
Originality F
Content F
Overall D-
Reply
July 11th, 2007
at 10:04 pm
MJ says:
where did u hear his album LAThug? it hasnt leaked yet
Reply
July 16th, 2007
at 12:03 pm
D Ultim8 Scoobster says:
OMG this man is HORRIBLE !!!!!!!! His best song ever was still tippin” that was becuse Slim Thug killed the first verse. He is nothing but a gimmick rapper !!!!!!!!!!
Reply
September 18th, 2007
at 9:47 pm
07 says:
this dude is garbage.
should be small rating.
how do you get famous out of saying your own name and phone number?
Reply
October 16th, 2007
at 3:52 am
itsme68 says:
mike jones last album was wack im not expecting much of this
Reply
November 3rd, 2007
at 2:38 pm
Bryan says:
Mann Mike Jones BKA Dyke Jones is the worst rapper to come outta H-Town.
Chamillionaire shoulda kept on plekix with this fool.
idk how his 1st album wuz so great cuz all his songs r wack.
keeps repeatin his lines, he says his phone number way to much, and needs new material cuz im sick of him rappin about grippin grain, sippin syrup, and all that other shit.
cuz he says it in every damn song
Reply
November 27th, 2007
at 3:09 pm
A Hot Mess! » Mike Jones Still Thinks People Care? says:
[...] none of the tracks generated the buzz he enjoyed during the run-up to his debut album. XXL reviewed The American Dream in our May 2007 issue and gave the project an average “L” rating. The project was eventually shortened to a six track [...]
Reply